Reason

- Someone like me? What do you mean? Avine cut off her friend, her eyes narrowing.

- You see, someone like you who is so beautiful and delicate, so... Where was I?

- More appropriate places for... people like me, beautiful and delicate.

- Shouldn't a girl from a good family choose something other than Venèzie? Even far away from Venèzie. So, if there is a good reason, a really important reason that made you make this choice...

Melly made a vague and embarrassed gesture to illustrate her point.

- I'd like to know, if it's not too much to ask of course.

- And if it's too much to ask? answered Avine in a mocking tone.

But seeing her friend's sorry face, she stopped joking and lost some of her lightness.

Then Avine turned her face towards the window that showed the infinity of space. She was silent for a few minutes before giving a few half-answers. She took a deep breath.

- As you said so well, I am someone who belongs to a certain social class. Although I have a temper, at least I assume so, I am delicate by nature, I can't do much with my body. And given my family situation, I have never in my life done or experienced anything outside of my predisposed background.

- You could wait until you were twenty to go on an adventure. You'd have your own apartment. Besides, I bet your mom already bought you one.

- I know. But I just can't find the words to explain it, or to define my true feelings. I just felt like I wanted to do it. To go a little further than I usually do, and discover things that are completely beyond me.

- And as one of the things to discover at all costs that made you such a strange princess, like choosing Venèzie, is really aiming high. Maybe a little too high now that you think about it.

- What? You're backing out now, when we're so close to getting there? her friend reproached her, her eyes sparkling.

- That's not the point, Avine. I told you earlier that we would like to go on an adventure and share wonderful moments with you. But Venèzie is Venèzie.

- Yes, I know. And even if it wasn't, I would have been guaranteed to know everything about you.

- You always understood that. But I don't think you ended up ignoring the truth. You know the story, don't you?

- The dark history of this fallen planet? Obviously, who doesn't? She ran her tongue over her lips before beginning.

- The emperor of this planet desired supreme power and led his people, of their own free will, with him into the horror of a galactic war. The battle was historic and terrible. But Venèzie was finally defeated. And as punishment, he was banished from the light forever.

- So what?

- It's horrible, even frightening," Avine replied with a wry grin. But what you have to understand is that, in addition to this century-old punishment and all the terrible legends about this place of perdition, it has never stopped people from being fascinated by it and from coming back to it, for those who were able to leave it. Countless strangers, consumed by curiosity and the dark side, continue to visit it, disregarding all caution and morality, to experience what it has to offer. This has not stopped over time. Even worse, the number of visitors is gradually increasing. And it apparently won't stop.

The three friends fell silent again for a few minutes after this light discussion of historical accounts.

- Remember our first real screw-up, girls?

They laughed pleasantly and exchanged knowing and nostalgic glances.

- Yes, we do. Of course I do. Izy exclaimed, running a hand through her hair. And it was a truly unforgettable memory. But as far as my feelings about it go, it's much more confusing.

- For me too, Izy. That day I told my mother I was going to your house. And you told yours the same thing. Isel followed us. Then we went out together and went into the darker neighborhoods.

- To discover the world as we had programmed it so well. I still remember it like it was yesterday.

Melly closed her eyes for a moment, a nostalgic smile on her lips.

- Oh, the smell of beauty products from those dubious stores that swarmed the gloomy streets of Aquan. Mixing with the alcohol from the bars and nightclubs.

- Yes! And I slipped on a banana peel, then on the mud. That day, I finally let myself believe that bad luck really does exist.

- And I, too, believed in a punishment for this unblessed outing.

And Isel, who was constantly attracting men, each one as strange as the next, begging her to accompany them to try on their clothes.

- Yes, for a start. Isel complemented by finally intervening in the discussion.

- Please don't blame them, honey," Avine joked. Never in their long, complicated lives have they seen anyone so close to the size and appearance of a doll.

- Well, thanks. I feel better.

- And then when we got tired of wandering among the stalls and through the corridors of the underground market, we finally stopped in front of a kiosk.

- Yes I remember, the owner, was this strange fat woman, with too much makeup and disheveled hair dyed old pink.

- She was horrible.

- As much as this drink she offered us to promote her products.

- I liked the taste, Isel exclaimed with a dreamy look.

Melly and Avine stared at her.

- Yes, of course. As if anyone could doubt it, since this witch concocted it especially for you.

- Of course," she said indignantly, "since she gave it to us so nicely and I wanted to help her in her business.

- She was selling trinkets, Izy. What glass would have helped her then?

- You never know. It was delicious.

- You passed out right away.

- And we had to carry you through the endless alleys to the nearest hospital. You can imagine how we looked to others, anxiously carrying you without any grace to save your life.

- Not to mention that you never once stopped shouting like a thug about the undeniable charm of that charming fat lady of toys, as you so aptly called her during your delirium, But since our hearts were so big, we refused to abandon you to your tragedy and continued our heroic journey relentlessly until we reached the safe parts of the city.

- Ah," exclaimed Isel, undecided. I did think to thank you, didn't I, my beloved girls?

- Unlike you Izy dear. You were angry with all of us the next day because we dared to run away from such a lucrative and rewarding job as selling your fat toy woman's products on a whim.

Isel considered her friends for a moment, not knowing what to say, then shrugged, falsely defending herself.

- I was so young.

- We all were. Just twelve years old.

They sighed together. So Avine concluded the story.

- Fortunately, we didn't tell anyone about this unfortunate adventure.

- Yes. It was already a risky and very dangerous thing we had done at that time, Avy.

- What are you trying to say? She looked at her, speaking with a voice that was too soft but with a hardened expression.

- We were in Kolod, at home. On known and familiar ground. But this time we are, or rather we are going to a foreign and very dangerous place, the worst of the cases in short. An initiative that borders on the inevitable fall.

- Everything will be fine. Avine reassured them as much as possible and added hastily to prevent her friends from continuing.

- And notice, we have just arrived.